NID: GORBACHEV'S VISIT TO LITHUANIA

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826849
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: January 16, 1990

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826849
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Gorbachev's Vhit
to Lithuania
General Secretary Gorbachev failed to reverse the Lithuanian
Communist Party's split from the Soviet party or to dampen secessionist
sentiment in the republic during his visit last week. Leaders of the newly
independent Lithuanian party apparently emerged from their meetings
with Gorbachev firmly committed to preserving their new status.
Moreover, nationalist leaders quickly rejected as a ploy to buy time
Gorbachev's proposal of a law to establish procedures for secession.
Nevertheless, in a speech to republic party activists, Gorbachev insisted
his visit was not "in vain," indicathtgjjut he intends to continue the
dialogue with republic leaders.
Lithuanian party chief Brazauskas was elected president of the republic's
legislature yesterday. According to a recent poll conducted in the wake of
the December split with Moscow, the popularity of the new party among
Lithuanians has increased substantially.
Comment: The Lithuanian party's rising public prestige reflected in the
poll results and in the election of Brazauskas suggests there is little
possibility it will reverse its split with Moscow. Gorbachev's relative
inattention to the Lithuanian schism during his trip suggests he
recognizes that efforts to reverse it would prove futile. At its meeting
reportedly scheduled for 29 January. the CPSU Central Committee will
probably limit its actions to excluding the renegadepay from
participation in national party decisionmaking.
Gorbachev is likely to shift his immediate attention to attempting to
dissuade other republic Communist parties from following the
Lithuanian party's lead. He probably hopes that, by gaining Central
Committee approval for draft regulations granting greater autonomy to
republic parties, he can persuade the Estonian and Latvian parties�
support for schism is less solid in them than in the Lithuanian pany�to
defer a split
At the same time, Gorbachev is likely to push preparation of the draft
law on procedures for a republic's secession in the hope of slowing the
drive for independence without resorting to force. The quick rejection of
the proposed law by nationalist leaders in Lithuania underscores the
difficulty Gorbachev will face in getting them or board regardless of the
law's provisions. By underscoring Moscow's reluctance to use force, the
proposal of the law. will almost certainly be read by nationalists as a
green light to nur7e their independence strategy
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i 6 Januat). 1990
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826849